Later that afternoon, Charlotte's leaning against the doorframe of Betsey's hospital room, looking at the little girl sleep with the sheets pulled all the way up to her neck. She sees Betsey stir, so she flicks her eyes down, glancing at the chart in her hands.

Betsey opens her eyes and stretches, letting out a yawn. She reaches for the pink cup on the tray and knocks it over by accident.

Charlotte looks up after hearing a soft gasp and walks into the room. "Everythin' ok?"

Betsey nods. "I spilled the water all over the blanket. Sorry."

Charlotte shakes her head. "It's ok." She sets the chart down and moves the tray to the side. She removes the blanket and motions for a nurse. "Get me another blanket, please."

The nurse nods and leaves the room again.

Charlotte pours Betsey another cup of water and hands it to her. "Careful."

Betsey smiles. "Thanks."

"You're welcome."

There's a knock on the door and they both turn they're heads. "Cooper!" Betsey erupts.

Cooper gives Charlotte a look, complete with a quick eyebrow raise, and then walks over to the bed. "Hey there, kiddo." He smiles and takes out a plastic toy pony from behind his back.

"Is that for me?"

"Maybe." He laughs and hands it to her.

Betsey runs her finger through the horse's golden mane. "Can I keep it?"

He nods. "Of course." He pauses. "What's her name?"

Betsey looks at the horse and then back up at Cooper. "Buttercup." She sets the cup on the tray and scoots backwards. She walks the pony over her legs and neighs. "Thanks, Cooper."

He gives her a kiss on the top of her head. "You're welcome, sweetie."

"Are you gonna stay and play with me?"

"I have to go check on a patient, but I'll come back and play with you later. How's that?"

"Ok."

The nurse comes back and lays out the blanket. She checks Betsey's IV while she's there and then leaves again.

"I'm sure Charlotte would love to play with you." He cuts a glance at Charlotte and smiles.

"Well actually, I—."

"Please?" Betsey makes her eyes go all wide and she waves her plastic pony in the air.

Charlotte sighs and glares at Cooper.

"Have fun." He lets out a soft chuckle and disappears down the hallway.

"I guess I can keep ya company for a little while."

"You were with my daddy that night, right?"

Charlotte nods. "I was." She sighs and sits in the chair beside the bed.

Betsey shifts on the mattress, her eyes going a little bit glossy. She blinks and runs her hand over the horse's mane. After a couple minutes, she holds out the pony and smiles.

Charlotte takes the horse and combs through its hair with her finger. "So you like horses?"

Betsey nods. "I love them."

"I used to have horse."

Betsey's eyes widen. "A real horse? Not a stuffed one or a plastic one? You had a real live horse?"

Charlotte laughs and nods. "Mmhmm. I got 'er when I was twelve. Her name was Marjorie and she was whitish-grey."

"Was she a pretty horse?"

"She was a beautiful horse."

"Did you ride her too?"

Charlotte nods. "All the time."

"Wow, that's so cool."

Charlotte sets the horse on the tray and scoots closer to the edge of the chair. "How's your head?"

"It hurts."

"I bet." Charlotte adjusts something on the IV stand and smiles. "That should make you feel better." Her pager goes off suddenly. She looks down at it and nods. "I have to go take care of somethin'. I'll be back later. I'll tell you more about my horse if you want."

Betsey nods. "Uh-huh."

"Ok. I'll be back later." Charlotte stands up and leaves the room, not at all clearer on what she wants to do about the whole 'adopting Betsey thing'.

Author's Note: Mason will be part of this story and I'll let you know when that is when we get closer to it. It'll probably be chapter 10 or 12.

But for those of you who don't like Mason, I have a couple story ideas that sort of just popped into my head:

1) Cooper has a three week old patient in the NICU, who's mother died in childbirth and who's father died in Iraq before she was born. He falls in love with her and wants to adopt her

2)Violet and Pete die in a car crash and Charlotte and Cooper end up getting custody of Lucas.

Side note: Mason will be mentioned in both these stories but will not be a central part of them.

As always, review :)